The Knight
Part Six:
Padme was very quiet as they continued through the woods. They stopped to rest in a clearing where the sun shone gaily through the pine boughs.
She looked at her tattered robes. She didn't know how much longer she could stand trekking around the planet. If only there was a way she could communicate with Sabe! She desperately wanted to know her handmaiden's progress. She absolutely hated feeling helpless... and she hated the Trade Federation for putting her and her planet in such a position. Even if the senate listened to Sabe's plea, it could take weeks for them to act. She'd have to take matters into her own hands.
She looked at the Jedi. He seemed concerned. She suddenly wondered why she was putting so much trust in him. For the time being he seemed to know what he was doing. But looking at him now, in thought, he seemed so young, so unsure. For the first time, it seemed, she realized that he was human, and probably just as scared and troubled as she was.
The golden sun tinted his hair red as he looked off into the distance, standing on the edge of a large cliff.
She moved to him.
The wind blew wisps of her hair as she looked around at the beautiful landscape stretching before them. The treetops below were every shade of green seeming to flow into one, stretching forever. She could make out the silver of water in the distance, at times sparkling in less wooded areas. It was so peaceful, so naturally perfect and detailed that she could stay there all day, and in the shifting light of time never tire of its beauty. It made her feel so small, and if only for a moment, everything felt right. Everything here had a place: the plants, animals, forces of nature. Everything in this world existed for a reason, and no place was small in the scheme of this land with it's own majestic rules. 'We all have a place, too.'
She looked at the Jedi again. He seemed lost. Whether they be Jedi and queen, warrior and war lord, peasant and noble woman, they were still just two people, no matter how it sometimes felt.
Without thought, she grabbed his hand. He turned his troubled eyes toward her. She met them with the pure determination and perseverance that she now felt.
She squeezed his hand, "It's going to be allright."
His eyes reflected the sudden confusion that had rose within. He continued to look at her for a moment, searching her eyes as if searching her soul, trying to understand her intricate self that was a web of emotions.
He gave a weak smile, then turned his gaze back to the lush life stretching below them.
Holding his hand, and knowing that he didn't object, she felt even more at peace. She felt warm inside as she slowly rested her head on his shoulder. She felt so safe, so sure; she couldn't remember what it was like to feel out of place.
She wished the moment would never end.
Obi-Wan surveyed the cliff-face. It was a steep drop, they'd have to find another way to reach the forests below. Padme followed closely as as he made his way along the cliff-edge, constantly looking for a way down.
The wind was cold, and his hands were becoming numb, making it difficult to grip tree roots when necessary.
He found his mind wandering. Somehow, feelings that had been only slightly disturbing whispers had become clear. He knew his emotions were distracting him, but he couldn't push them aside, he did not want to.
He didn't need to look behind him; he could hear Padme's shoes scuffing against the dirt and rock as she followed. In a way the sounds were reassuring. Yet for some reason he was growing weary. He was getting a sinking feeling in his stomach. He attempted to calm his many different emotions and listen to what was wrong, but he could not grasp it.
As he focused more of his attention inward he lost precious seconds of reaction time and was not fast enough to avoid the blaster shot that hit his side. He instantly lost his footing.
"Obi-Wan!" Padme screamed in horror as she watched the Jedi slide and disappear over the cliff side. She froze as her body filled with adrenaline. She dropped to her knees as laser fire was directed towards her. She felt a wild panic as she realized that there was nowhere she could go to escape. She felt her body begin to shake as she looked at the cliff-face. She turned her gaze to the forest slightly above and could just make out approaching figures.
She looked to where Obi-Wan had fallen. With a sudden resolution half born out of impulse, she clung to a tree root as she swung her legs over the edge. With one final look towards her pursuers who had just begun to reach the cliff-edge, she let go.
She slid, rapidly gaining speed. The rocks bruised and scraped her as her body flew downward. She heard blaster fire erupting once more from above. She dug her boot toes into the rock and sand, desperately trying to slow her descent.
Her heart raced as her body suddenly lifted off the face some, sending her off the thickest part.
Before she had the chance to hit the side again, her arm jerked painfully as her body stopped.
She closed her eyes as dust and rock flew into her face. After a few seconds she opened her eyes to look up.
Obi-Wan had caught her forearm and gripped an outcropping with his other hand. She moved her hand to grasp his forearm, tightening their link. Their eyes were locked. Padme moved her other arm to grab his. She took a quick, deep breath and gritted her teeth as she pulled herself up. She grabbed his shoulders, knuckles white as she latched tightly to the fabric of his tunic.
He used both arms to half pull them onto the outcropping. As soon as she could, Padme pulled herself up, then turned to help Obi-Wan.
They sat, smudged faces turned toward each other. Padme felt tears spilling onto her cheeks as her heart rapidly pounded.
She never realized how much emotion one's eyes could convey until she looked into Obi-Wan's that day.
Without an explanation to herself, without needing an explanation, she reached out to hold him. He squeezed his eyes shut as he hugged her back. He rested his head on hers as he recognized the warmth of tears running down his cheeks.
Padme hid her face in his shoulder, never wanting to let go. After a long while, she slowly pulled back.
They searched each other's faces for a moment. His eyes seemed to tell her that he was allright, so she didn't ask.
They could hear bits of muffled conversation going on above. After a few moments of intent listening in silence, Padme spotted their pursuers beginning to explore the cliff-side on the far left.
The Jedi was leaning his head against the outcropping wall.
She turned to him. "We have to go, they're looking for us."
He nodded.
She turned and began to crawl, the thick part of the cliff serving as cover from above.
Obi-Wan began to move. He moaned and winced, grabbing his side. Padme turned to him, worried. She stole a glance at their pursuers, who appeared to be arguing about something. She placed her hand on his arm.
He took a deep breath and used his elbows to pull himself. Padme kept crawling. They just needed to get a few yards away, to where the outcropping sloped and vegetation covered the hillside. They needed to get out of sight.
She slipped over the edge and grabbed Obi-Wan's shoulders as he painfully rolled onto his back. She helped him over the side. He leaned against a small, weathered pine.
She looked over the edge of the outcropping and across to their attackers. Their argument was rapidly escalating. She could make out three men, all armed with blasters. Two began gesturing to each other aggressively. The man uphill suddenly drew his blaster and shot the other. Fear rose as she watched the man fall like a rag doll, tumbling down the cliff-face. The third man, apparently angered by the second man's actions, rudely shoved him. The second man shoved back, and before he knew it, the third man had kicked his feet out from under him. The second man tumbled down the cliff-face a ways and miraculously caught onto the root of a long-gone tree. As the third man scrambled for a better view of the second man, Padme turned away. She had seen enough. They HAD to get out of there.
Shakily, she turned to to the Jedi who was watching her weakly. He was perspiring and still breathing faster than he normally would.
"Can you walk?" Her eyes were pleading. He reached out for support as he tried to stand. She grabbed his arm and he gritted his teeth and winced as he stood.
"Okay," she muttered under her breath as she put his arm around her shoulders. She glanced about quickly, hoping she had missed an easier way down. No. The only way they could make it was through the tall brush.
"Here we go," she whispered as they began their descent. The right side of her ribcage and her left shin hurt terribly but she recognized the pain as only bruised muscle and bone.
As they began to push their way through the bushes, she heard a single blaster shot. The third man had undoubtedly shot the second.
Seeing those men kill so easily without hesitation made her feel a power she had never known. It was a primal fear that ran through her veins now. She knew that she was not running from some faceless village hunter, but a cold blooded bounty hunter who's first nature was obviously to kill. It was different. There were no rules now. No unwritten laws of society to protect them. This man, if he could be called one, played by his own ruthless rules.
Carrying on with an unknown ancient strength that had risen from the darkest shallows of human instinct, she bared the extra weight from Obi-Wan, and pushed tirelessly ahead. As they reached more level grounds she realized that they were entering the lush ocean of green they had seen from above.
Obi-Wan's step was becoming slower and Padme was bearing more of his weight than before. She slowed and stopped next to a large tree, helping him to the ground. He lay his head on the carpet of leaves and winced slightly at the pain of movement.
Padme felt his cheek. He was burning up. There was nothing she could do to help him. She grabbed his hand and he looked at her.
Both of their faces were strained with the pain of worry. He reached up to touch her cheek as she held back tears. She held his hand to her cheek as she leaned into his touch.
His eyes shone with love. "Padme. You have to keep going. I'll only slow you down. You must leave me."
The tears fell now. She began to cry. "No," she replied softly. "No, I'll never leave you." She spoke what was in her heart. Before he had a chance to argue, she began looking about for a sheltered place to hide. She spotted an area that was partially enclosed by brush. Tall fern-like plants grew everywhere, it would be easy to hide among them.
She turned back to him. "We can hide." She helped him to his feet and they stumbled over to her chosen area. Obi-Wan lay down on the leaves once more while Padme settled next to him. She prayed that the bounty hunter thought they were dead. If he was smart he'd find another way to the base of the cliff to look for their bodies. When he didn't find them, it was only a matter of time until he came to this grove.
TBC